Wrecking-truck.



R. T. HGLMES.

9 WREGKING TRUCK.'

APPLICATION FILED Nov.22,1s13.

1, l l 7,6%@ Patented Nov. 10,1914

,nutren STATES rafrnnir ROBERT T. HOLMES, 0F DANVILLE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 ROB'I. HOLMES &. BROS., (INCORPDRATEDQ OF DANVILLE, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

WRECKING-TRUCK.

To allwhmn if may concern Be vit known that l, ROBERT T. HOLMES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Danville, in the county of Vermilionand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and'nuseful Improvements in lVrecking- Trucks, of which the following isa specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. v

This invention relates to Wrecking trucks, and is more particularly designed'to support one end of the axle of an automobile or other vehicle, which has lost a'wheel while the vehicle is being towed home.

The object of the invention is to provide a' Wheeled support for the axle, which will be ve'ry simple in its construction and can be readily placed in position and attached to the wrecked vehicle; to so construct the device that'the load will be supported substantially in the same vertical plane with the axis of the truck; to provide such a" device which will be reversible, so that Yit can be readily adapted to support either the -front'axle or the rear axle of the vehicle;

and to so construct and arrange the several parts of the device that itwill be not only simple, but very strong, and can be readily transported. from one place to another when ,not in use.

In'the accompanying drawings Figure l is a side elevation of an automobile, showing a truck embodying` my invention supporting the front axle thereof. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the truck, showing the same may be manipulated and provided with .a

suitable rest or socket to receive the axle which is to `be supported and retain the Samet-in position.

The particular construction of the several arts of the invention is capable of materia variationfrom the -iorinhere shown, which form has been chosen forV the purpose of illustration only.

Specification of Letters Patent. eppncatiopliiea November 22 1913. serial` No. 802,440.

Patented Nov. M9,

In the articular form of the device here illustrate the lwheeled support cornil an axle l, having at each end thereof 2. Mounted upon the axle l is a suppoframe comprising sidemembers 3 connected yat their upper ends and adap to have connected thereto a manipulating device or pole 4. As here shown the side members 3 of the frame are substantially L-shaped, the free ends of the horizontal portions being connected with the axle l. The vertical portions of the frame members are connected by transverse bars 5 and 6 which are spaced apart to receive between them the pole 4. The pole may be secured to the frame in any suitable manner, but'l have here shown a pin 7 which extends through the transverse connecting members 5 and 6 ofthe frame, and through the pole,v

thus .affording a. very strong connection` which can be readily released. The connec tion between the supporting frame and the* pole 4 is preferably made at a point somewhat remote from the end oi' the pole, thus fcausmg the end of the pole to project bev'ond thepframe and above the axle which is mounted in the horizontal portions of the frame members. I also prefer toprovide the projecting end of the pole with a suitable rest or socket-to receive-the axle vdich. is to be supported, 'and hold the same against movement longitudinally 01".' the pole. As here shown, this socket comprises ablock 8 having a recess 9 shaped to receive the axle. The block 8 is rigidly secured to and preferably formed integral with a plate l0 which projects beyond the end of the block 8, and is adapted to be extended between the pole 4 and the1 transverse bar 5, and which is provided with an aperture through which the pin 7 extends. In this manner the pin 7 serves to fasten together the supporting frame,A the pole and the axle socket. The plate may also be provided with flanges .l1 dependingon either side of the pole fl andserving to retain the block 8 against lateral displacement with respect to the pole.

The device as described is particularly adapted for supporting the rear axle of the vehicle, it being understood that when the axle rests within the socket 9 the pole i' will extend forward to a point adjacent to the front axle, and may be secured thereto in any suitable manner as by lashing it to the axle with a rope or the like. To facilitate` this connection the pole is provided with a ring 12 through which. the rope mav bo passed.

The device may be used without change to support the front axle, but l prefer that ywhen so used the axle sh( ild rest in the rear of the truck frame, and to this end th mechanism is made reversible so that the socket 8 may be supported on the pole on the rear side of the frame 3, and so that the frame may be turned to cause the horizon tal portions thereof to extend rearwardly as shown in Fig. 1. This reversal is accomplished by withdrawing the pin 7, reversing the parts on the pole, and reinserting the pin; A single socket or block 8 may be einployed for both axles, or it desired, separate blocks may be employed, and in the resent instance I have shown the separate locks for the 'front and rear axles, thc. re-

' casses being of sli'htly different shape to adapt each to the particular axle which it is to support. lt will be noted that in either position of the block` and the frame, the axle Will be supported directly above thea-xls of the supporting frame.

The pole 4 may be of any suitable length but here it is designed for use with automobiles of different sizes. It is preferably made of 'a length substantially equal with the Wheel base of the largest 'automobile with which it may be desired to use it. When it is used with an automobile of a shorter Wheel base, the end of the pole Will project beyond the axle to which it is lashed,

Without in any Way interfering with the operation of the truck. This pole ma y also be provided with a metal toe or reinforced tip as indicated at 13,`thus enabling the pole to be used, either with or without the truck, to pry upon or lift the machine or vehicle in restoring the same to its proper position on the road preparatory to towing it to the garage.

The operation of the device will be read? ily understood t'rorn'the foregoing descrip tion, and it will be apparent that l have provided a Wrecking truck which can be very quickly and easily applied to either the front or the rear axle ot' an automobile, and when so applied ivill support the axle in a position which will permit the automobile to be towed along the road. Further, thc device is of a simple. compact construction having great strength and can be cheaply made and easily transported from one point to another. Further, While l have shown and described one embodiment of the invention l Wish it' to be understood that ihis form has been chosen t'or the purpose of illustration only and l do not desire to be limited to the details of the construction 1,1 lignee Letters Patent, is: A 1. In a device of the character described,

wheels, a frame carried by said Wheels, a pole connected with said frame and havmg means to support an axle thereon, said supy porting nieans being arranged above and in substantiallyv the same vertical plane With the axis of said wheels.

2. In a device of the character described,

an axle, Wheels mounted on said axle', a'

'the vertical plane of said axle, a pole carried by said upwardly extending portion of said frame and having a supporting member arranged above said axle.

In a device of the character described, an axle, lwheels mounted on said axle, a

frame comprising L-shaped members, having their horizontal portions mounted von said axle, cross bars connecting said members, a pole extending between said cross bars and having a portion extending bcvond sadfframe members to a point directly above said axle, and means to support one axlev of a vehicle upon said portion of said pole.

4. 'In a device of the character described,

an axle, wheels mounted on said axle, a

trame comprising L-shaped members, hav ing their horizontal ortions mounted on said axle, a pole, an means to reversibly secure said pole at a point between its ends lo the upright members of said frame.

5. ln a device of the character described, an axle, wheels' mounted on said axle, a frame mounted on said axle and having a portion extending upwardly at one side of the vertical plane of said axle, a pole re-` versibly mounted on said frame, and means for securing a supporting member to said pole, above said axle, when said pole is in either position.

(3. In a device of' the character described,

an axlc, wheels carried by said axle, a frame mounted on said axle, a pole mounted be- 'tween its ends on said frame, and a socket having means Jfor securing the same to said pole on either side of said frame.

7. In a device of the character described, an axle, wheels carried thereby, a frame mounted on said axle, and having transverse members spaced apart, a pole extending between said transverse members, a socket, a plate carrying said socket and adapted to extend between said pole, and one of said transverse members, and a pin adapted to extend through said transverse member, said plate and said pole.

S. A wrecking truck for vehicles comprisin a Wheel supported frame, a pole seother axleof said vehicle, and a Wheeled cured` near one end to said frame and havsupport for that portion of said pole which ing means adjacent to said frame for supsupports the rst mentioned axle.

porting` one axle of a vehicle, and means for In testimony whereof, I aiX my signature 5 connecting the other end of said pole to the lin presence of two Witnesses.

other axle of said vehicle.

9. A Wrecking truck for vehicles, com- ROBERT T' HOLMES prising a pole having a part adapted to en. Witnesses: gage and support one axle of a vehicle and v JAMES C. WoonBURY.

l0 havingone end adapted to be secured to the WM. T COUTANT. 

